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Vote for Obama, urges Hillary

DENVER, Colorado - Democrat Hillary Clinton today called on her
supporters to rally behind Barack Obama, launching a concerted
effort to end the anger over her own failed bid for the White
House.

"I am asking you -- to those of you who supported me I will be
forever grateful -- to work as hard for Barack Obama as you worked
for me during the primary," Clinton told a meeting of the Hispanic
caucus here.

She was speaking just hours before the Democratic Party was to
launch its four-day jamboree aimed at thrusting Obama forward into
the final crucial weeks of the 2008 presidential elections.

"We must have a Democratic president," Clinton stressed to
Hispanic supporters, many of whom have yet to fully embrace Obama
as the party's choice for the White House.

Earlier, top aides to both Clinton and Obama had aggressively
sought to squelch reports of discord between the Democratic giants
emerging from the party nominating convention.

The two camps issued a strongly worded statement after the
Politico website reported "sniping" between them, partly over
former president Bill Clinton's speech to the convention set for
Wednesday.

"We understand that some in the news media are more interested
in reporting the rumour of controversy than the fact of unity,"
Obama's top strategist David Axelrod and senior Clinton aide Maggie
Williams said in a joint statement.

"The fact is that our teams are working closely to ensure a
successful convention and will continue to do so," they said.

"Senator and president Clinton fully support the Obama/Biden
ticket and look forward to addressing the convention and the nation
on the urgency of victory this fall.

The Politico reported late Sunday that "mistrust and
resentments" were boiling up between the two camps, and said the
Obama campaign had angered Bill Clinton by trying to limit his
convention speech to national security issues.

Hillary Clinton meanwhile also hit back at a Republican National
Committee advertisement featuring the former first lady during the
primary campaign saying she and McCain had a lifetime of
experience, while Obama had only a speech he gave in 2002.

"I saw those ads," Clinton said in Denver, "and that's why I
have to say. I am Hillary Clinton and I do not approve this
message."